You never think it will be you. You go about your days making plans, imagining futures, dreaming ordinary dreams. Life feels steady, predictable. And then it isn’t. One phone call. One scan. One… Continue reading
In 1948, two French scientists noticed something unexpected in their lab samples: fragments of DNA drifting in blood plasma. At the time, the discovery seemed trivial, even puzzling. DNA, after all, was supposed… Continue reading
You’ve likely heard people talk about “chemo brain”—or maybe you’ve even felt it yourself. It’s that foggy sensation that can make it tough to find the right word, recall a friend’s name, or… Continue reading
So few grains of happiness measured against all the dark and still the scales balance. – Jane Hirshfield “The Weighing” I’ve been reflecting on these lines from Jane Hirshfield’s poem The Weighing and how its… Continue reading
In many cultures, greetings are often seen as polite and routine exchanges. However, in some Muslim cultures, there exists a profound dimension to these everyday interactions. When someone asks, “How are you?” in… Continue reading
I discovered that today, September 16th is ‘Tattoo Story Day’. While I am not sure if this is a day that’s universally marked, it gives me the prompt I need to tell the… Continue reading
Checking my August Awareness Day Calendar, I discovered that today, August 30th is designated as Grief Awareness Day. Sometimes I feel we are awash with grief in our community. Not just in our… Continue reading
Are you looking for a new job after cancer treatment? Perhaps you left your last employment after your diagnosis, or maybe you are still in your current job but want a fresh start… Continue reading
“In a society which is much more inclined to help you hide your pain rather than to grow through it, is necessary to make a very conscious effort to mourn.” – Henri Nouwen Grief… Continue reading
T for this week’s round-up of the best of the blog posts which I’ve read over the past week. These are the posts that have moved me, taught me something, inspired me, and which I’ve wanted to share with you. Don’t forget if you have written a post which you would like readers to see, just […]
The Thing Is to love life, to love it evenwhen you have no stomach for itand everything you’ve held dearcrumbles like burnt paper in your hands,your throat filled with the silt of it.When… Continue reading
The Butterfly Effect For Marie Ennis O’Connor So close and still Quietly far away From the company Who chose you The day you heard The word we all Heard. Echoes In a canyon… Continue reading
26 posts. 26 days. 26 letters of the alphabet, one blog post beginning with each letter. H is for Hair I started this blog a few years after my breast cancer diagnosis and… Continue reading
Picture the scenario. You have been diagnosed with cancer, (or some other medical condition)and you are about to meet with your doctor to discuss your treatment options. You have done some research yourself and you… Continue reading
I had been hearing wonderful things from a friend about her yoga teacher, and when she told me that Sighle had been recently diagnosed with breast cancer, I got in touch and asked her if you… Continue reading
Clearing out the cupboards after Christmas, I came across a jar of tahini which I had bought to make hummous, but then had forgotten about. Searching online for another way to use the jar,… Continue reading
As many of you know I love quotations. I post them daily on the JBBC facebook page first thing each morning. I find they are a wonderful focus for the day. I was thinking of some… Continue reading
Ah the first day of a new year! Here we are again, with a fresh start, ready to make our mark on 2011. And have you made those perennial resolutions to lose weight? Find your dream… Continue reading
Well, here we are again at the end of another year and I hope your last week is just what you want it to be. I’ve been having a lovely week, following on from a surprisingly delightful… Continue reading
As we are still in a holiday mood, today’s recipe is a combination of Christmas flavours perfect for entertaining. Parsnip, cranberry and chestnut loaf Ingredients 4 tbsp butter , plus a little extra for greasing… Continue reading
Earlier this week the annual celebration of the winter solstice took place here in Ireland at Newgrange in Co Meath. Newgrange is famed for the illumination of its passage and chamber by the Winter Solstice sun. Above… Continue reading
Time for this week’s round-up of the best of the blog posts which I’ve read over the past week. These are the posts that have moved me, taught me something, inspired me, and which… Continue reading
